A porch swing is the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Not only do porch swings improve the quality of time spent with friends and family, they also increase property value and enhance backyard landscaping. These little beauties are becoming increasingly popular with seniors, people with limited mobility and others who simply want a place to relax. Building a porch swing is a simple project for the handy do-it-yourselfer. These are the steps to build your porch swing.

If you have a good set of cementing boards, which are strong enough to resist moisture and are available in a variety of sizes, you can get started. Buy several pieces of board and set them in a standard shape as the rails for your porch swing. The bottom rail should be screwed into the ground. Mark the other side of the rail with an indented mark. It is essential to measure the depth between the floor and top of the rails.

Pilot holes should be drilled into the bottom and middle boards. These pilot holes should be large enough to accommodate your seat and a few accessories like a cover. Use wood shims under the seats to keep them level as you screw the rails together. Choose a stiff fabric cover to protect the porch swing. This step should not be skipped. Even a light breeze blowing the weight of a full grown human weight could cause the cover to sag.

The frame of your porch swings can be built from strong scrap timber. Pine is a strong choice and the grain is resistant to weathering. Cedar is another fine choice, especially if you live in an area that gets heavy downpours. The natural aromatic scent of cedarwood is hard to beat. Treated pine wood is also available and will last much longer than a natural one.

All hardware is required to brace and hold the plywood edges in place. Rubber washers are necessary to hold the metal rails in place over the wooden frames. The washers make it easier to screw the whole thing together. Your porch swing should be strong enough to withstand strong winds that might occur on a hot summer afternoon.

Even the strongest porch swings can only be supported by four feet worth of lumber. There are many other options available, such as porch swing sets that come with all the materials you need to assemble your swing. These generally include a porch swing base, rails, and a seat. You can either buy a kit ready to go online or from your local hardware store. All of these supplies can be purchased online.